On This Day In 1984 Band Aid “Do They Know It’s Christmas” Reaches #1 On The Charts
Bobby Caughron 
(Watch The Music Video Below) December 29th, 1984 saw the pop supergroup Band Aid reach #1 on the U.K. charts and helped to raise over $11.5 million for charity. The group sought to provide relief for those in famine-stricken Ethiopia.
The recording features the following artists (in alphabetical order):
Robert “Kool” Bell (Kool & the Gang)
Bono (U2)
Pete Briquette (Boomtown Rats)
Adam Clayton (U2)
Phil Collins (Genesis and Solo Artist)
Chris Cross (Ultravox)
Simon Crowe (Boomtown Rats)
Sara Dallin (Bananarama)
Siobhan Fahey (Bananarama)
Johnny Fingers (Boomtown Rats)
Bob Geldof (Boomtown Rats)
Boy George (Culture Club)
Glenn Gregory (Heaven 17)
Tony Hadley (Spandau Ballet)
John Keeble (Spandau Ballet)
Gary Kemp (Spandau Ballet)
Martin Kemp (Spandau Ballet)
Simon Le Bon (Duran Duran)
Marilyn
George Michael (Wham!)
Jon Moss (Culture Club)
Steve Norman (Spandau Ballet)
Rick Parfitt (Status Quo)
Nick Rhodes (Duran Duran)
Francis Rossi (Status Quo)
Sting (The Police)
Andy Taylor (Duran Duran)
James “J.T.” Taylor (Kool & the Gang)
John Taylor (Duran Duran)
Roger A. Taylor (Duran Duran)
Dennis Thomas (Kool & the Gang)
Midge Ure (Ultravox)
Martyn Ware (Heaven 17)
Jody Watley (Solo Artist)
Paul Weller (The Style Council)
Keren Woodward (Bananarama)
Paul Young (Solo Artist)
Band Aid was a charity supergroup founded in 1984 by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure to raise money for the relief of famine in Ethiopia. The single surpassed the hopes of the producers to become the Christmas number one on that release. Re-recordings of the song to raise further money for charity also topped the charts, Band Aid 20 version in 2004 and Band Aid 30 version in 2014.
To commemorate 40 years since the original recording of the classic Christmas hit “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” and to raise additional funds for the Band Aid Trust, newly compiled 1LP & 1CD formats are set to be released on 29th November.
The product features the original 1984 “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” version, and subsequent Band Aid 20 and Band Aid 30 versions, plus the 2024 Ultimate Mix – a brand new edit of which mixes together vocals of the many artists who have recorded the song over the decades. The mix has been produced by Trevor Horn. For the first time on CD and LP, the Live Aid Finale version of the song, recorded in 1985 at the Wembley Stadium, will feature on the track listing for the ultimate complete collection.
Today half of the 600 million hungry people in the world live in Africa. Once again, Band Aid aims to raise as much money as possible to help those affected.
Tracklist
SIDE A:
1. Band Aid – Do They Know It’s Christmas? – 1984 Version
2. Band Aid 20 – Do They Know It’s Christmas? – 2004 Version
3. Band Aid 30 – Do They Know It’s Christmas? – 2014 Version
SIDE AA:
1. Band Aid – Do They Know It’s Christmas? – 2024 Ultimate Mix
2. Band Aid – Do They Know It’s Christmas? – Live at Wembley Stadium, 1985
You can order your copy of Band Aid 40 right here: http://Order here: https://bandaid.lnk.to/BA40
Photo Credit: Live Aid YouTube Channel Capture
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